Button-sewing machine



Nov; 13, 1928. 1,691,246

R. L. -LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 QWYZJ R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1925 Nov. 13, 1928.

R.v L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Nov. 13, 1928.

Filed April 21, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l lllll lllllllll! I010 7 EaZwYl. 3 726 6 k? M 4 a w\ w. a 3 F L w M 1 6 F \Q w W 3 6 r 1 w w: w .4 w w n ll I I 1M l X 7 h l S n J 5 w x... U v3 \\A N \5 & mv J NW Q W I H u w I H $1! m m \m\ I Q 0 V M. Y m f L I w L w R w, w w #Q 8 2 9 1 3 1 W 5 N \w Nov; 13, 1928. 1,691,246

R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5v 4 a0 /Z I /I/ ,Qfiwa $1 @ZQWYLZZ lyouo Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,691,246 PATENT, OFFICE...

ROBERT L. LYONS, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A COBYORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed April 21, 1923. Serial No. 633,225.

neath each button thread hole at substan- According to the present invention the stitches through each hole of the button may be distributed over an extended area of the goods so that they have a better grip thereon and are not liable to be torn out and cause holes to be left in the goods.

A further feature of the invention relates to means adjustable to sew a two hole button 4 with the same stitch in the goods as for a four.

hole button.

Still another feature of the invention relates to mechanism by'which the machine may be adjusted for sewing either two or four hole buttons. I

The invention also contemplates the employment of one or more work-engaging elements carried by the button clamp and movable therewith toward and from the work to clamp and release it on the work plate, said deflector mechanism.

elements however being movable relative to the button clamp with the work as it is moved by the work plate. Interference with the proper movement of the work due to the presure of the button clamp thereon is thus avoided.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, together with valuable features and advantageous details and combinations of the parts, reference may be had to themcompanyingdrawings in which Figurel is a side elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a similar view showinga cover plate removed.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the needle bar and casing.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section partly broken away on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the machine head and mechanism carried thereby.

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 6-6 of Figure 4. I

Figure 7 is an inverted plan of the thread Figure 8 is a detail section on line 88 of Figure 6.

' cation for Figure 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9 of Figure 2. p i

F lgure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section .on line 1010 of Figure 4.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan of the outer end of a button clamp.

Figure 12 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the clamping elements.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the same.

Figures 15, 16, and 17 are fragmentary front, side and rear elevations, respectively, pf a clamping element showing a modifica- Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing parts in different positions.

Figure 19 is a section on line 19-49 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a, fragmentary inverted plan of a cover plate.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a connecting pin.

Figure 22 is an enlarged development of the cloth plate cam.

Figure 23 is a plan of a four hole button as sewed in position.

Figure 24 is a section on line 24-24 of Figure 23.

Figures 25 and 26 are views similar to Figures 23 and 24 but showing a two hole button.

Figure 27 shows the appearance of the stitch for both the four hole and two hole buttons on the back face of the cloth.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, at 1 is indicated a substantially rectangular hollow supporting frame to which is hinged the machine head 2. This head is formed with a forwardly extending shelf or table portion 3 on which the work is supported, as will later appear, and extending upwardly from the rear of the portion 2 is a hollow post 4 having a forwardly extending arm 5 for supporting the needle guide bar housing 6, this housing bei'ngpositioned above the table portion 3 in the usual manner.

The button to be sewed is carried by a button clamp indicated at 7 which may be of any suitable type, but which as herein illustrated is of the construction more fully shown, described and claimed in the appliatent of Harold W. Morris, Serial Num er 643,897, filed June 7, 1923.

The button is held between these clamping r. This cloth plate is slidable lengthwise over the upper face of a throat plate 61 and over a plate 62 forming the rearward continuation of the throat plate and which together form the top portion of the table 3. The upper face of the work plate 60 is serrated as at 63 (see Figures 4 and 6) so that work pressed thereon will be carried beneath the button clamp as the work plate is moved lengthwise substantially parallel to the face of the work. The lower faces of the clamp- ,ing elements which are formed as work engaging feet 15 and 17 .of the button clamp may be smooth so that the work may pass readily therebeneath while the button is held by the clamps, or the clamp may be provided with work-engaging elements movable with the work and relative to the clamp as shown in Figures 11 to 17.

Referring first to Figure 11 to 14 inclusive, the button clamp 7 is shown as-provided with a pair of oppositely facing jaws 10 plvoted .at their rear ends'to a supporting plate 12,

these jaws being downwar y turned to formwork-engaging feet. A spring plate 15 holds the button in position relative to each foot. A third button clamp element 17 cooperates with the elements 10 to' clamp the button, all these elements being releasable from the button in the manner shown more particularly in the Morris application above referred to, by movingrearwardly the end of a finger lever 44 pivoted on a screw 45 fixed to the plate 12. l 1 Each of the elementslO, as shown in these figures, has fixed to its rear face at above its lower end, the upper end of leaf spring 51 whose lower end is forwardly turned, as at 52 and extends beneath the lower end'of the corresponding element 10. The lower face of this end portion 52 engages the upper face of the work when the clamp is depressed,

and as the cloth plate moves lengthwise car-' rying the work therewith, the portion 52 of the spring may move with the cloth and independently ofthe button clamp, the upper portion of the spring flexing to permit this action and acting to return the portion52 to its normal position relative to the foot element as soon as the work is moved back or the button clamp is raised.

In Figures 15 to 17 the work engagin elejment is shownas a'slide 53 seated in a ovetail-slot 54 arranged lengthwise of the cloth plate in the lower face of each clamping foot, this. slide being urged into a predetermined position relative to its foot by a spring wire 55 having its lower end forwardly turned re9n24e and engaging in a perforation 56 in the rear end of the slide and its upper end made fast to the rear face of the foot element as by a screw 57. This slide may move rearwardly with the work, the spring wire 55 flexing to' permit this action and acting to return the slide to its normal position when the work is returned ,or the clamp is lifted.

At its rear end the work plate 60 is made fast as by screws 64 to the forward end of a slide 65 (see Figures 4, 10 and 18) which is the arm 66 and its extension are held in alinement. By removing the pin 70, the extension 68 may be raised upwardly and the pin 70 may then be placed in position within the perforations in the arm 66 and beneath a notch 68 in the lower edge of the extension whereby the rear end of the extension is held elevated. The end of this extension carries 'a cam follower 71 having a shank 72 threaded in the extension 68 and against the upper' end of which bears the lower end of a screw 73 in axial alinement therewith by which the follower is axially adjustable and when the extension is in alinement with the arm this cam follower engages in a cam groove 74 ofa cam disk 75. This cam disk is fixed to 'rota'te with a vertical shaft 76 extending u wardly and journaled within bearings 7 extending rearwardly fromthe forward wall of the frame post 4. Above the cam 75 shaft 76 has fixed thereto a worm gear 80 (showndotted in Figures 4 and 5) with which meshes aworm 81 on a horizontal main drive shaft 82 journaled in the head 2 of the machine and extending rearwardly therefrom where it is provided with any suitable drive mechanism 260. The cam groove 74 is so out, as shown for example in Figure4, that the slide 65 and consequently the cloth plate when the follower 71 is in engagement therewith, is given a forward and backward motion between the formation of the various stit'ches and controls'the distribution of the stitches'in the goods supported on the cloth plate. When the cam follower 71 is out of engagement with the cam groove 74 the mo tionof the cloth platemay be controlled by other means. As shown suchother means comprises a cam-85 also fixed to the shaft 7 6 and having a cam groove 86 on its lower face. Both cams 75 and 85, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, are angularly adjustable relative to the shaft 76, being fixed to a collar 90 pinned to the shaft, by means of screws 91 passing through slots 92therein. and threaded in this collar. The cam groove 86 has riding therein as shown in Figure 5, a follower 95 carried at the free end of an arm 96 fixed to a vertically extending shaft 97. This shaft 97v has fixed at its upper end an arm 98 (Figures 4, and 18) having a longitudinal guideway 99 in its upper face. Overlying this arm-98 is a slide 100 guided for movement parallel to the slide 65 and in contact with the upper face thereof by means of a pair of guides 101 overlying the slide 65. The rear end of this slide 100 is laterally extended as shown at 102 and is slotted at 102' to receive a stud 103 having a projection 104 from its headed-lower end riding within the guideway 99 of the arm 98. The head of this stud rides within the grooved lower face of the portion 102 and on the threaded portion of the stud extending above the portion 102 is positioned a tightening nut 105. With this constructionrocking motion imparted to the rock shaft 97 by means of the engagement of the follower 95 in the cam groove 86 causes an oscillatory movement of the arm 98. This motion is imparted to the slide 100, the amplitude of this tached in Figure 21 at 110 is journaled within an opening in the forward end of the slide 100 within a depressed portion 111, this portion having adjacent to the pin 110 an inclined face 112 (see Figure 4;). The pin 110 is provided with a laterally extending rod 113 forming a. handle by which it may be turned and the rear end 114 of this rod is adapted to pass over the. inclined face 112 so as to raise the pin 110 upwardly into the position shown in Figure 10. By'turning the pin so that the portion 114 rid'es off the inclined portion 112, the pin may be depressed so that its lower end rojects through the slide 100 and into a mating opening 120 in the slide 65, this position of the parts being indicated in'Figure 18. In order to insure that this pin engages in the opening 120' of the slide 65, a spring 121 is shown as seated in a socket 122 in the upper end of the pin 110, this spring reacting against the lower face of a socket portion 123 formed ina cover plate 124 which overlies the slides 100 and and is provided with a cutaway portion 125 (Figure 4.) at its rear end through which the nut105 projects so that its adjusting movement is not hindered. This plate 124, as. shown in Figures 2 and 4, extends substantially the full widthof the machine head 2. The forwardedge of the plate 12 k may be cut away, as indicated at 127, in

order to permit access to be had to the rod.

113. It may now be seen that the work plate may be selectively connected to be given a forward and rearward motion by either of of the slide is provided with a pair of spaced ears 130 (Figure 4) between which extends the lower rear end of an L-shaped arm 131 (Figures 1, 2,10 and 18), the forward end of which as at 132 is adjustably attached to the plate 12 of the button clamp as by means of screws 133 engaging slots 134 in the arm 131 and threaded in the plate 12. These screws 133 also serve to attach tothe button clamp a plate 135 having at one end an upwardly extending ear 136 to which a chain 137 may be attached by which the button clamp may be raised upwardly from the cloth plate. The button clamp is normally urged. downwardly towardthe cloth plate in order to clamp work against the cloth plate by means of a leaf spring 138 fixed at its rear downwardly turned end 139 to the forward portion of the frame post 4, its forward end engaging the upper face of the plate 135. The rear end of the arm 131 may be pivotally connected to the 1 cars 1230 b means of a pivot pin 140 passing through mating perforations therein, the rear end of the-arm 131 being provided with spaced perforated'bosses 14=1for this purpose. Extending between these bosses'is a lug 142 fixed to the forward'face of the frame post 4 which acts toprevent lateral lost motion of the arm 131 as it'pivots about the pin 140. When the pin 140 is in position it is evident that the button clamp will be carried forwardly and backwardly with the forward and backward movement of the slide 100, the cam 85 for actuating the. slide being so formed as togive the requisite forward and backward movementduring the sewing operation to change the position" of the button so-that the needle passes through the forward and rearward-'pairs'of holes of a four hole button. The extent of motionof this button clamp for this purpose is, of course, adjusted by changing the position of the stud 103. VVhen'it is desired to sew through a.two hole button, the pin 140 is wlthdrawn from the ears 130 and 141 so as" clamp ,to be moved toward and from the work plate is permitted. Thechain 137 for raising the button clamp is connected to a arm 1 17 made fast to a rock shaft 148 which may be rocked by a treadle (not shown) C011. nected to a finger 156 projecting therefrom. The rock shaft is normally held in position to permit the button clamp to engage the work by a coil spring 151 coiled about the rock shaft and having its ends engaging a fixed bearing 149 for the shaft, and a collar 152 fixed thereto. H 3 K The needle bart 173 (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 9) is designed to be given lengthwise strokes toward and fromatlooper mechanism housed within the frame portion 3 and it is also given lateral motion to cause successive sewing strokes to pass "through alternate holes of the button spaced laterally of the machine? This may be accomplished by any suitable means but as herein shown the needle bar is swung laterally about a pivot according to the construction more fully shown, de-

sI'ibed and claimed 'in the application for patent of Harold W'. Morris, Serial Number. 643,897, filed June 7,- 1923. It is sufficient for an understanding of the present invention to state that the needle bar is slidable through a sleeve 172 pivoted at 171 to the needle bar housing, and is given its sewing T and retracting strokes by a crank arm 187 and link 188 from a rock shaft 185 actuated from the main drive shaft 82 of the machine by an eccentric 193 (Figures 4 and 5), a connecting rod 191 and an arm 190 fixed to the rock shaft, and that its lateral motion is effected by a lever 197 adjustably fulcrumed at 201 and having at its forward end a sleeve 192 through which the needle bar passes, and at its rear end-a cam follower 222 riding in a groove in a cam 220 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 76. The'path defined by this cam groove is so shaped that the needle passes alternately from side to side until the desired number of stitche have been made and then passes twice in succession through the same hole to knotthe thread. The machine .is then stopped automatically and on raising the button clamp the thread breaks at the knot. The looper is shown at 23Q and is carried by a rotary shaft 232 driven by intermeshing gears 235 and 236 from themain shaft 82. A1001) dc flector finger 231 (Figures 6 and 7) is also employed to cooperate with the looper to properly position the loop of thread from the needle in the usual manner.

A button having been inserted in the button clamp with the holes arranged in line laterally of the machine, and work having been placed on the cloth plate, the button clamp is allowed to bring the button down against the Work whereupon the sewing of the button may be initiated through the' drive mechanism. The needle then acts to pass through a pair of holes laterally of the machine alternately by the action of the cam 220. If a two hole button is being operated upon the buttonvclamp is given no motion lengthwise of the work arm 3, but [if a four hole button is being sewed, it is given such motion during the sewing operation in order that both sets 70 or pairs of holes may have stitches passed therethrough. The relative motion of the needle and work causes the stitches to. lie in substantially parallel lines'on the work. If

the work plateis moved by the cam 85 these 7| lines of stitches are arranged in two parallel groups, the work being pierced at four points to form the appearance. on the lower face of the work shown at a in Figure 27. If the cam 75 is used to actuate the Work plate, the 8 pair of. holes in the button are spread in the 35 work in a direction transverse to a line joining the pair of holes. The cam 75 may, if desired, have its pathshaped as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 22 in which after the first stroke of the needle in one of the forward pairs of button holes, the work .is given a backward thrust so that the end of the thread becomes locked between the button and the top face of the work, this being shown at e. The .work is then progressively moved 9| between stitches by successive increments,

bringing different portions of the work successively in line wit-h the holes in the button,

until it reaches the point f. At about this point the button clamp moves to present the ,rear holes of the button (if a four hole button) to the needle and the work moves back to the point g. If a two hole button is being sewed the button remains stationary. The

work then moves forward progressively tovthe 1c point 72. at'which time if desired, two needle .strokes for the same hole may be made and the machine be stopped in the manner disclosed in the patent application of Raymond L. .;Plumley, Serial Number 655,279, filed Au- '1] gust 2, 1923, for button sewing machines. If desired the machine may continue its. motion, the workbein'g moved back sharply to the point j and then progressively moved forward by successive increments to the pointlc 11 at which time the cam 220 has completed its revolution, the final knotting stroke takes placeand the machine stops at l. After the machine stops the operator depresses the treadle to raise the button clamp from the 19 cloth plate which causes the thread to break at the knot and the workQmay thenbe disengaged by merely releasing the button from the button clamp. y

- I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a

button carrier, awork holder, sewing instrumentalities for sewing a button carried by said carrier towork held by said holder, and means fdr. relatively moving said carrier,

holder and instrumentalities by successive increments during the sewing operation whereby a plurality of stitches passed through each of the holes in said button engage the work 6 at points spread along a line therein. A

2. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a button and work in position to fasten the button'to the work, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for 10 sewing the button to the work, means'for causing the needle to pass through two holes in the button in alternation while the button is held stationary, and means for moving the i work by successive increments relatively to the button between successive passes of the needle therethrough to cause stitches passing through the same hole in the button to engage difierent portions'of the work.

3. In a machine of the class described, a

' frame, sewing instrumentalities, a cloth plate,

, a button clamp, a member movable parallel to the surface of said cloth plate, and means for selectively connecting said button clamp to said member to move therewith or to said frame while maintained in operative relation to said sewing instrumentalities.

4. Ina machine ofthe class described, a frame; sewing instrumentalities, a cloth plate, a button clamp, a member movable parallel to the surface of said cloth plate, means for selectively connecting said button clamp to said member to move therewith or to said frame while maintained in operative relation to said instrumentalities, and means for moving said buttonclamp toward and from said cloth plate regardless of the posi.- tion' of said selective connecting means.

. 5. In amachine of the classdescr'ibed, a cloth plate, a slide, a cam for reciprocating 40 said slide, a second-cam, means. selectively connecting or disconnecting said cloth plate and slide, and means for selectively operatively connecting and disconnecting said cloth plate to and from said second cam.'

6. In a machine of the class described, a workirplate,,means for carrying a button, mechanism for fastening a' button carried by said carrier to work on said plate, devices for V relatively moving said button carrier and fastening mechanism to position fastenings through various holes in the button, mechanism for relatively moving said work plate andfastener mechanism to control the distribution of fastenings in the work, and

5 means whereby said moving mechanism may be rendered inoperative and said devices rendered operative to relatively move said fass tener mechanism and work plate.

7. In a machine of the class described, a

Y lhwork plate, means for carrying a button,

mechanism for fastening a button carried by said carrier to work on said plate, devices for relatively moving said button carrier and fastening mechanism to position fastenings through various holes in the button, mechanism for relatively moving said work plate and fastener mechanism to control the distribution offastenings in the work, means whereby said moving mechanism may be rendered inoperative and said devices rendered operative to relatively move said fastener mechanism and work plate, and means for .rendering said devices inoperative to relatively'move said button carrier and fastener mechanism. I a v v p, 8. In a/ machine of the class described, a button carrier, a work plate, mechanism for fastening a button carried by said carrier to work on said plate, means,for moving said carrier and plate together relatively to said mechanism to cause fastenings to be applied through spaced pairs of holes in the button and into the work, and means for rendering said moving means inoperative to move said button carrier while remaining operative to move said work plate, whereby fastenings may be applied through a single pair of holes in the button and into the work "of spaced pairs of points. i

9. In a' machine. of the class described, members comprising a button carrier and a work plate, stitching mechanism for fastening a button'carried by said carrier towork on said plate by stitches passing thrbugh a pair of holes in the button and into the work, and means for so moving said membersand at a plurality mechanism during the stitching operation as to lock the starting end of the stitching thread between the button and the work and thereafter to engage the thread in the work at points distributed along parallel lengths thereof.

l0. In a machine of the class described, a

machine frame, a cloth plate, a button clamp for holding a button adjacent work on said cloth plate, a member, means-to reciprocate said member, means for coupling said work.

,plate to said member, and means for selectively operatively connecting said button clamp and member or for fixing said button clamp to said machine frame.

l1. In a machine of the class described, a cloth plate movable substantially parallel to the face of work placed thereagainst, a button clamp constructed and arranged to hold work on said cloth ,plate and relative to which said cloth plate moves, and a work engaging element "carried by said button clamp and movable'relatively thereto with the work as said work is moved by the movement of said cloth plate.

12. In a machine of the class described, a cloth plate movable substantially parallel to the face of work held thereon, a button clamp movable toward and from work carried by said cloth plate" and relative to which said cloth plate moves, and a work engaging foot arranged to press'the work against said work plate, said foot having a resilient extension made fast to said button clamp and yieldable to permit said foot to move with the work as said cloth plate is moved'relatively to said clamp by said movement of said plate and movable with said clamp toward and from the Work to press and release the work against and from said cloth plate.

13. In a machine of the class described, an article carrier, a work holder, sewing instrumentalities for sewing an article carried by said carrier to work held by said holder, and means for automatically moving relatively to each other by successive increments said carrier, holder and instrumentalities during the sewing operation as to spread from each other successive stitches engaging the article at one portion along a line in the work.

an angle to the lines of stitches to move the work during the sewing operation while the button clamp-is stationary to cause stitches engaging the same portions ofthe button to be distributed in the work laterally of their lengths thereon.

18. In a machine of the class described,

means for holding a button and work in position to fasten the button to the work, sewing instrumentalities for sewing'the button to.

the work with stitches arranged "in substantially parallel lines relative to the work, and

means for relatively moving the work and instrumentalities by successive increments laterally relatively to said lines during the sewing operation to spread the stitches in 14. In a machine oi the class described, fi he WOI'k:

button carrier, a work holder, sewing instru means for automatically moving relatively to each other'by successive increments said carrier, holder and instrumentalities during the sewing operation in directions to spread stitches passing throughtwo holes in the button along lines 'in the work transverse to the line of the said two holes in the button.

16. In a' machine of the class described,

sewing instrumentalities, a cloth plate, a button clamp for holding work against said plate and for holding a button in position to be 7 to said instrumentalities,

sewed to the work and in operative relation I means for actuating said instrumentalities to cause stitches to be passed through a pair of holes in a button held by said clamp and into the work, and means for moving said cloth plate transverse; ly tothe line of said pair of holes while the button is stationary to move the work correspondingly during the sewing operation to cause the stitches passed through the pair of holes in thebfitton to be spread laterally in the work.

17. In 'a machine of the class described, sewin "instrumentalit-ies including a needle, a cloti plate,- a. button clamp for holding work against said plate ,and for holding a button in position to be sewed to work on said plate and in operative'relation to said needle, means for moving said needle relatively to the work and button to fix the button to the work by stitches lying in substantially parallel lines on the work, and meansfor moving said cloth plateby successive increments at 19. In a machine of. the class described, means forlholding a button and work in position to fasten the button to'the work, sewing instrumentalities for sewing the button to the work, and means for moving the work relatively to the button and sewing instrumentalities by successive increments between stitch formations to cause stitches engaging one portion of the button to engage a plu rality of portions of the work.

20. In a machine of he class button carrier, a work holder, sewing instrumentalities-for sewing a Hutton held by said carrier to work held by said holder, andmeans for moving said work holder between successive stitchmg operations and while said button carrier is stationary.

21. In a machine of the class described, a

described,

button carrier, a workholder, sewing instrumentalities including a needle for sewing a button held by said carrier to work held by said holder, means .for moving said needle laterally between successive stitching operations to cause the'needle to pass alternately through eachof a pair of holes in the button, and means for moving said work holder between successive stitching operations and while the button carrier is stationary to present different-portions of the work successively in line with the holes of the button.

22.. In a machine of the class described, a

button carrier, a work holder, sewing instru Inentalities including a needle for sewing a button held by said carrier to work held by said holder, laterally between successive stitching opera-- tions to cause the needle to passalternately through each of a pair ofholes in the button, and means for moving said work holder in a direction at an angle to the lateral motion ot the needle between successive stitching operations and while the, button carrier is stationary to present difierent portions of the work successively in line' with the holes of the button. I

'In testimony whereof I have aflixed ,my

signature. I

' ROBERT L. LYONS.

means for moving said needle 

